The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 437 The war actually started a long time ago
The coalition forces were located downstream, and the north wind was blowing in winter, making it very difficult to launch a fire attack. However, Kuai Qi's strategy was somewhat effective.

Cai Mao did not dare to delay and quickly told Sima Yi the plan and waited for Sima Yi's decision.

"Will this strategy really work?" Sima Yi asked.

"It should be possible." Cai Mao said after thinking for a while.

"This matter is of great importance. Let's wait until the prime minister arrives before making a decision." Sima Yi thought about it and decided to hand over the decision-making power. Connecting all the warships together was a huge plan that was not something Sima Yi could decide.

If a fire attack occurs, the entire navy camp will be destroyed.

Although theoretically, the possibility of this happening is relatively small, but what if it happens? How could Sima Yi dare to make such a decision? Even Jia Xu did not dare to make a decision easily.

Cai Mao felt a little regretful after hearing this, but didn't say anything.

"Who came up with this plan?" Sima Yi asked again.

"Presented by Kuai Qi, the governor of Xicheng."

Cai Mao did not dare to take credit for it. Kuai Qi was also a person of status and background. If this strategy worked, it would be a great achievement.

"Kuai Qi? Is he the one who married Zhuge Kongming's sister?"

Kuai Qi's information immediately appeared in Sima Yi's mind.

"That's the man." Cai Mao said quickly, "When Zhuge entered Jingzhou, in order to integrate into the local community, he married his sister to Kuai's family, thus gaining their help."

When a new family arrives in a strange place and wants to integrate into the local community, the simplest and most effective way is through marriage. The Zhuge family came from Langya and migrated to Jingzhou, and the method they adopted was also marriage.

"Is it credible?" Sima Yi said dimly.

Cai Mao didn't know what to say after hearing this. This sentence made him speechless, and he didn't dare to say anything. The relationship between the aristocratic families was complicated, even if they were relatives, they might draw their swords against each other for the benefit of their own family.

Cai Mao had no idea about the relationship between Kuai Qi and Zhuge Liang. Now, he even felt a little regretful. If he had known that such a thing would happen, Cai Mao would never have told anyone about the strategy of linked warships.

The main reason is that the linked warships have a big flaw. Once they encounter a fierce fire, the entire navy camp will be affected.

"Forget it. The Prime Minister is coming soon. We'll just have to wait for his decision on this matter."

Sima Yi thought about it and decided to report the matter. The linked warships had big problems, but it was undeniable that they also had their advantages. Northern soldiers could walk on them as if they were on flat ground, which could improve the combat effectiveness of the soldiers.

"The Prime Minister is coming?" Cai Mao was overjoyed.

"It is expected to arrive in Wulin in three days."

Sima Yi chuckled.

Qin Shou's arrival means that the decisive battle is about to come. The key is that Qin Shou is about to become king. These people who follow Qin Shou can also gain the credit of following the dragon.

"The Prime Minister is coming, and the rats in Jiangdong are about to be defeated." Cai Mao said hurriedly.

"The Prime Minister will soon be crowned king, and we will soon be his loyal subjects." Sima Yi stroked his beard, unable to hide the joy on his face.

Cai Mao was even more ecstatic.

Everyone followed Qin Shou with their lives at risk, wasn't it just to ennoble his wife and children and enjoy wealth and glory?

Three days later, Qin Shou arrived first with the Huben Camp. Sima Yi, Huang Zhong and other generals went out to meet him ten miles away and welcomed Qin Shou into the navy camp, which shocked the three armies.

Qin Shou also inspected the three armies accompanied by generals.

But when he saw the soldiers still swaying on the deck, his face didn't look very good.

It is not an easy task to make these soldiers from the north familiar with fighting on warships. Sometimes, even the generals may not be able to adapt to fighting the enemy on warships.

"Prime Minister, Kuai Qi, the governor of Xicheng, has presented a series of warships, which are tied together with iron chains, so that the soldiers can walk on them as if they were walking on land." Sima Yi said hurriedly. Someone wants to harm me!
Qin Shou looked at the river. It was midwinter and the wind was biting cold. He looked at Sima Yi and asked:

"Zhongda, what is Kuai Qi's origin?"

Sima Yi trembled when he heard this and quickly replied, "In reply to the Prime Minister, Kuai Qi is Zhuge Liang's brother-in-law."

Qin Shou sneered when he heard this and said, "What do you think of this linked warship strategy, Zhongda?"

Sima Yi thought for a moment before saying, "Prime Minister, although there are some weaknesses, as long as there is no southeast wind, I think it will be fine. Even if there is a southeast wind, the enemy wants to use fire attack, as long as we are prepared, the enemy's evil plan will not succeed."

Qin Shou smiled slightly.

"Zhongda, you are not from Nanjun, so you don't know the weather in Nanjun. Even the locals in Jingzhou may not know some things. Southeast winds may blow in winter."

Qin Shou's words were like the sound of a huge bell, shocking Sima Yi.

Southeast wind in winter?

Sima Yi was stunned for a moment. He had studied astronomy, geography, military strategies, etc., and had learned them very thoroughly, but he had never heard of the southeast wind in winter.

Will there be southeast winds in winter?

It seems that this possibility is not impossible.

"Pass the order, Kuai Qi has made meritorious contributions by offering suggestions, and the Ministry of Personnel shall reward him." Qin Shou's voice came quickly and rang in Sima Yi's ears.

"Order the craftsmen in the camp to build linked warships."

"promise."

When Sima Yi heard this, a look of horror appeared on his face.

He had already concluded that this was Zhuge Liang's conspiracy. However, Qin Shou knew that the other party had set a trap, but he still continued to follow the other party's conspiracy.

That can only mean one thing, Qin Shou has a bigger conspiracy waiting for the arrival of the enemy.

If you think about it carefully, there are Cai Mao and the other two who were faked to death, and Gan Ning who was imprisoned.

Only then did Sima Yi realize that Qin Shou's war against the coalition forces of Cao and Liu had actually begun long ago. The two sides had already started fighting when the enemy was far away in Bashu.

And these are just what he himself does not know, or rather, even Zhuge Liang and others do not know all this.

"Zhuge Liang, I'm afraid you don't know all this!"

Sima Yi looked towards the direction of Chibi with a sarcastic look on his face.

Being suppressed and beaten in Dangyang was indeed an uncomfortable thing.

Chibi, the navy camp.

The atmosphere in the big tent was solemn. Cao Cao and others had already received the news that Qin Shou had come to Wulin and reviewed the three armies. This meant that a war was about to break out and Qin Shou would lead his troops eastward to attack Chibi at any time.

"There is news that the Qin thieves are preparing to build linked warships. This is also good news."

Zhuge Liang saw that the atmosphere in the tent was solemn and spoke quickly.

"Even so, if we want to complete a fire attack, it may not be as simple as just linking warships." Cao Cao shook his head.

In order to achieve victory, many factors such as time, location, people and so on are indispensable. Although Zhuge Liang's plan was thoughtful, it still could not guarantee victory in the war.

(End of this chapter)